The 2014 Group One Golden Easter Egg will be conducted for the 25th time on Saturday night and the winner will join a long list of champions that have won the unique golden egg trophy.
The final field has been assembled over a period of three weeks with the final eight coming from an initial pool of 80 greyhounds.
Some of the races famous winners include Highly Blessed, Malawi Law, Tenthill Doll, Rapid Journey, Brett Lee and Paua To Burn. More recently, winners include Grigorieva Bale, Don't Knocka Him and Radley Bale. The fastest winning time for the Golden Easter Egg is 29.60, recorded by Don't Knocka Him in 2012.
Evil Punk is the fastest qualifier for this year's final, running 29.70 last week.
Here's a look at the field, which comprises five greyhounds from Victoria, two from New South Wales and one from Tasmania.
Comments: Ted Medhurst (Trainer) – “Hopefully he will go very well. There's no question he is well drawn. They're only flesh and bone and can do some strange things but hopefully he comes out well and if he does he will run a good race. He is a winning hope but it depends on how he begins. He is healthy and ready to go on with it. We are overwhelmed that he is has got into another Group One final and we are pleased to be there.”
Comments: Jamie Ennis (Co-Trainer) – “From a punter's perspective, Tonk has drawn beautifully. Ollie Bale, in box three, likes to use a bit of the track. That won't help Warrior King, but it will help Tonk. Buckle Up Wes is obviously the one to beat, he is a professional race dog, has good pace and drives up hard. Tonk is probably at the right age to do well.”
Comments: Tom Dailly (Co-Trainer) – He's drawn nicely so I hope he gets a clear run and can get on the bunny. If he gets on the bunny he will be some sort of chance of winning.”
Comments: Jamie Ennis (Co-Trainer) – “Warrior King is still only a young dog that has just turned two. Those few inside draws he has had has given him some confidence and he drove up good last week. From a punters perspective though, Warrior King's biggest problem in the final will be Ollie Bale wanting to use the track.”
Comments: Len Harris (Co-Trainer) – “I'm hoping she will go well. It is a very hard race. I'm just hoping she jumps out in front. She is only a young girl and it's a big thing for her. She has made four finals now and has never drawn well and we have had no luck with the draw for this final. I just hope she really does well. The whole litter is going well and I put it down to living in paradise (Northern Rivers).”
Comments: James Coyle (Trainer) – “It is going to be hard to lead. It's too hard to say, with all those fast dogs inside him. I think he is going to need a little bit of luck around the first turn. He is a good chaser, a very hard chaser. Hopefully he'll have a bit more luck this week and he'll get there.”
Comments: Tom Dailly (Co-Trainer) – “He is probably not drawn too well out in seven but he does chase very hard so we will just see how he goes from out there.”
Comments: Tom Dailly (Co-Trainer) – “It doesn't sort of suit him, the pink, because he doesn't have an abundance of early pace so he's going to need a fair amount of luck to get into the race from out there.”
Comments: Has performed well during the series and was running home solidly last week to just miss out on making the final. If she gets a start from an inside box she is expected to go well.
Comments: Flew out last week but couldn't hang on, beaten four-and-a-quarter lengths by Tonk. Will need some luck if he gains a start.
Best Wentworth Park Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
29.93
30.07
5.38
5.38
Buckle Up Wes (1) will start the deserved favourite from box one, a box he is undefeated from. He ran second last week to Magic Display (5) from box four, working hard to finish in second place. He is the current Australian Cup champion and with a good jump at box-rise, should prove too hard to hold out.
Tonk (2) also looks ideally drawn and as Jamie Ennis has pointed out, he should get some room with Ollie Bale (3) drawn outside him. Ollie Bale has been showing good pace in his last two runs at Wentworth Park and likes to use the track. Ollie Bale will show his best if he can get on the bunny but he may not have the pace to match Buckle Up Wes and Tonk.
Warrior King (4) has improved with each run he has had at Wentworth Park and is the youngest chaser in the field. It would not be a surprise to see him up there in the final stages.
Evil Punk (6) and Magic Display (5) are the local hopes and they both possess good early speed. Magic Display has been flying the lids in her last couple of runs and could lead the field, but she will have to try and get past Tonk and Buckle Up Wes early. Evil Punk hasn't drawn well but is a tough chaser and will give it his all.
Jordan Allen (7) and Hawk Alone (8) will need luck from out wide. Hawk Alone has managed a fast first section here in the past but he is more noted for the strength at the end of his races.
The final should be a great race and is scheduled to jump at 9:45pm.